The Evening Star THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1886.

Evening Star, Issue 6842, 4 March 1886, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1886.

Lieutenant W. D. Milne was last night elected captain of the Cavcrsham Killes.

According to official returns the pojndation of Victoria on December 31 was 991,839, of whom 529,82(1 were males. One of the Auckland licensing committees has come to a deadlock, being unable to agree to the appointment of a chairman, Tuesday night’s meeting at tho Garrison Hall resulted in tho sum *of LIU being handed to the trustees of the Homo for Fallen Women.

The Government have given LI ,000 for tho erection of a fever hospital, and L’2o towards tho cost of fitting up an ophthalmic and children’s ward at the Christchurch Hospital. Mr Albert Woollett, chemist at Green Island, died this morning, from an overdose of morphia it is supposed. An inquest is to be held by Coroner Watt at 1.45 p.m. tomorrow at the Green Island Hotel.

At the adjourned inquest at Christchurch on the body of Mrs Mary Scott, who died last week under somewhat suspicious circumstances, the jury returned a verdict of “Died from natural causes.”

Tho Morhington Borough Council at the conclusion of their Monday’s meeting carried a resolution calling on Charles M'lntosh to remove the obstruction in Ncidpath road, in front of Mrs Tuvton’s house, and to cover up the well securely by midday to-day ; otherwise tho work will be done at his expense by the Borough. The excursion to Kaltangata to-day was availed of by 191 persons. Of these 152 went from Dunedin and thirty-nine from Cavcrsham, Abbotsford, and Mosgiel ; Caversham supplying tho bulk of tho latter number. Tho railway authorities had made provision for about 250 excursionists. The threatening state of the weather this morning doubtless deterred many from going.

A meeting of the .South Dunedin unemployed was held this afternoon at the Council Chambers. The Mayor was present. The men complained of being discharged by Mr "Barnes from the work provided by the Government. They claimed that they had as much right for employment as any resident in Dunedin. The Mayor informed the men that the only thing he could do would bo to telegraph to the Government, This the Mayor subsequently did. A copy of his telegram appears in another part of this issue. Mr H. W. U’Ren exhibited to a few gentlemen at his residence, Kensington, last night, a model of the improved gas-making apparatus now being introduced by the proprietors of Bionics patent. Since the invention was shown here about a year ago several improvements have been made in the machine, all tending to simplify it and reduce the cost of working. The model worked last night is identical with that constructed for the Victorian Railway Department for use at the country railway stations in that Colony, and should meet with ready adoptiou here whenever it is ottered for sale. Seme very clever and daring leaping was a feature of last night’s performance at the Circus, and the evolutions on the high trapeze were also received with welldeserved applause. Iho entertainment wound up with a mock stecpleclia.se. In jumping one of the gates a horse broke the top rail, and part of the piece of wood struck a boy on the forehead, causing the blood to flow freely. It was a pure accident; but it would be well if when similar performances are engaged in the youngsters were cleared out of "harm’s way. The audience last evening was a very large one, and this will probably ho the rule up to the end of the season, which, as will be seen by advertisement, is rapidly approaching. ■ The monthly meeting of the Union street School Committee last evening was attended by Messrs Gillies (chairman), Stewart, .lackson, Sutherland, Matthews, and Wright. The head-master reported that there was an increase in the attendance of seventy pupils since last quarter, the total number on the roll now being 737. The master also .complained that a number had been playing truant, and the Committee resolved that a circular be sent to parents intimating that if children did not attend the compulsory clauses of the Education Act would be enforced. The secretary reported that the treasurer's accounts for the year ended December SI, 18S5, had been audited and found correct.

With respect to the great Middle Island land claims, which were brought before I’arliamont by the lion. Mr Taiaroa, Mr Uallanec spoke as follows to the Kaiapoi Natives the other day “ Petitions have come up with reference to enormous laud claims, which are said to be based on promises by Messrs Kemp and Maulell. lam bound to tell you there is no probability of Parliament listening to those claims. They seem to ho extravagant and outrageous, and therefore I think it is a waste of time for you to go on with them. But 1 will tell you the view the Government take of your affairs. We think that laud should ho pro vided for those Maoris who arc landless. We arc therefore intending to appoint a commission of inquiry to ascertain the claims of those who arc in that position. We propose, after the inquiry is concluded, to set aside laud for settlement, and have the same divided according to the necessities of the people. This land may not—will not- he equal to that asked for, hut it is intended it shall be good land, suitable for cultivation, and I intend that those Maoris who arc placed on it shall be put in a position of independence.” Mr Ballance added that the Commission would sit and report before the meeting of Parliament, which would probably be in J une,

The Manapouri patients in the hospital at Gisborne are progressing favorably. A patient is now confined in the Ashburton Hospital suffering from cancer in the lips, caused by excessive smokhig. On Monday l)r Trevor performed a surgical operation, and had to take away a considerable portion of the man’s lower lip. Mr Wardrop, Mayor of South Dunedin, to-day telegraphed to the Minister of Public Works as follows :—“ Must decidedly claim that South Dunedin unemployed reap advantages of Government work provided in Dunedin. Mr ]Samoa has discharged forty. Why should Dunedin men only be employed? Hope you will interfere, or else authorise immediate expenditure on Anderson Bay road.”

Under the heading of “ A Father’s Fearful Predicament” the .Sydney correspondent of the Melbourne ‘ Telegraph ’ tells how Miss Estiek, aged twenty-one years, was burned to death in the sight of her father, wiio was unable to render her any assistance, because to do so would haVe endangered the life of a fellow-being. Miss Estick was engaged cooking at her father’s place, near Orange (N.S.W.), when her dross caugiit fire, and, enveloped in llames, she ran outside for help. At that moment her father was engaged in drawing his fcllow-wurkman up a well, and could not leave the windlass to go to her assistance, or the man would have been precipitated to the bottom. The Oamaru people aro up in arms against the Public Works Department, which threatens to seize a portion of the town recreation reservo for railway purposes. The burgesses deny that there Is any nceessity for taking this land, ns there is plenty of other land available, and are prepared to support tlm Borough in all legitimate acts to prevent the encroachment. Their attitude is one of uncompromising hostility, and from the eagerness with which the suggestion ef one speaker—that as votes would be scarce next session Ministers could be got at through tho members for the district—was seized on, wo should conclude that the Government will find a way out of their present difficulty, and leave the Esplanade intact.

No one but the master-mind which evolved the famous declaration that Canterbury must have tho East and West Coast Railway or “bust” could have penned eloquent sentences like these subjoined, which formedpartof ustock reportina recent issue of the ‘Lyttelton Times’:—“The yelping of political jackals, who have so persistently followed the trail of progressive measures, has so paralysed the position of trade for the time being exchanges of freehold aro few and far between. The voico of tho croaker hns been long and loud; so much so that discreet men declined to sell, and the would-be buyers (of whom there arc plenty) decline to operate until a definite outlook is placed before the country. Tho sooner affirmed and progressive measures are definitely laid before the people tho letter, unless it be the wish of mortgagees to collar the country. The depeopling of the Province seems the object of some, while our desire is to see a considerable augmentation to our population under enlightened laws, and upon tho rails of steady and assured progress. The physicians of wait and see tho' while lire gloating over tho carcass of depression, in view of tho hope of early absorption. Our candid advice is holddo not offer, do not sell unless tho vice of extortion has so tight a grip that you must make an effort, struggle and hold—tho darkest hour is before daylight.” The oause of that railway must indeed be languishing, when ft has to be bolstered up with such high faintin’, and enlists tho services of Miss Smithson ns a lecturer. A case of some considerable importance to shopkeepers came before tho Police Court at Timani on Tuesday. The ‘ Herald ’ says it was one in which a husband was sued for certain goods obtained by his wife, she having previously been told by her husband that he would not hold himself responsible {or any debts she might contract against bis orders and without his knowledge, Tho plaintiff in his evidence stilted that he had supplied goods to tho wife and to some persons in her house, whom he believed were servants, and had been told to charge the goods to the husband. This ho had done, und when he asked for payment the husband refused to recognise the claim. For the defence it was submitted by counsel that a husband could not legally or morally be held liable for such a debt, as he had given his wife most explicit instructions not to get goods on credit. His Worship, in giving ju Igmcnt for the defendant, siiid he concurred with tho remarks made by counsel, who had quoted authorities directly in support of his ease. This case he hoped would act as a warning to shopkeepers. He wished to impress on them the fact that it was not absolutely necessary for a husband to publish to the world that he would not hold himself responsible for debts contracted by bis wife ; it was only necessary that he should forbid his wife getting goods on credit. If a shopkeeper supplied goods to tho wife under such circumstances, it was his look out, and tho husband was not liable. This, we think, puts the husband’s liability for his wife’s debts under a different aspeet, and shopkeepers would do well if they took heed of this warning and took every precaution of seeing to whom thoy are giving credit.

Under the new Factories Act of Victoria, which came into operation on the Istinst., all shops, with certain specified exceptions, must be closed every evening in the week, except Saturday, seven o’clock, and on Saturdays at ten o’clock. But the practical administration of the measure is left with the municipal councils, which are authorised to make the nece:«ary by-laws. They may limit the hours during which shops excepted from the general rule may be kept open. They may permit other shops to keep open after the hours specified, or may require them to close at an even earlier hour. The only restriction placed upon their action is that, before any by-law dealing with these points is passed, a petition, certified to by the municipal clerk, must he presented, signed by a majority of the shopkeepers keeping shops of the class within the municipal district. It seems to bo feared that owing to hasty legislation the intention of the Legislature will be deliberately act aside. Thus the municipalities are empowered to inflict a penalty not exceeding LlO for each infraction of the Act, but the City Conned of Melbourne have found a way of lotting ('(Vending shop-keepers down lightly. These by-laws provide that the maximum tine for infringing the compulsoryclosing clause shall he one shilling, so that tiic measure will he really inoperative in the city of Melbourne. Again, legal authorities claim to have discovered that while the Act says at what horn's shops shall bo closed no mention is made of the time during which they arc to be dosed. In other words, a shopkeeper would comply with the Act by closing at scvcno’elock and opening again five minutes %,ter. The new Act is sure to furnish work for the lawyers.

Cavcrsliam Band’s concert to-morrow. Caledonian Society meet on the 12th inst. District order to Volunteers appears in this issue,

Otago Harbor Board’s adjourned statutory meeting on 11th Inst. A .social, consist,in;; of a concert, soin'c, and dance, will take place in tho Lyceum Hall tomorrow night.

Tho autumn show of the Roslyn and Kaikoni Horticultural Society, to be held in fct. John's Hall, Uoslyn, on Saturday, promise!! to be a very successful exhibition of pot plants and fruit. A novel feature this year is tho sale of work, ele. (under the management of St. John’s Ladies’ Working Society), to lie, hold in connection with the flower show. It is encouraging to Hud tile inhabitants of the district cooperating with each other in a manner likely to prove advantageous to both the local objects, and calculated to foster and increase neighborlinors and good ijeeling among all classes of the community,